-
1
Slice the ginger into thin sections and add them to two cups of boiling water.
-
2
Simmer this on very low heat for 20 minutes.
-
3
While this is simmering, boil the gallon of water and two cups of sugar for one minute and set aside.
-
4
Pour the ginger and liquid into a blender and blend on high for about one minute.
-
5
Pour this blend into the sugar water, through a strainer.
-
6
With a soup ladle, pour a few cups of the hot brew through the remaining pulp to extract a bit more of the ginger flavor.
-
7
Cool to room temperature. When cool, add vanilla, yeast and stir until dissolved.
-
8
Let sit for about 30 minutes.
-
9
Then bottle and age.
-
10
The simplest, safest and least expensive method of bottling is to use one-liter plastic soft drink bottles with screw caps.
-
11
These can be sterilized by rinsing in a mixture of household bleach and water and then rinsed with clean water.
-
12
After filling, the bottles should be set aside at room temperature for about 48 hours, or until hard (check by squeezing).
-
13
Then refrigerate to finish the aging process.
-
14
Leaving the bottles at room temperature too long will cause over carbonation.
-
15
Using glass rather than plastic bottles can cause shattered bottles.
-
16
Another nice feature of the plastic bottles is that they can be re-carbonated if only partially consumed.
-
17
Just let it sit out over night with the cap on and refrigerate it when hard.
